March 20, 1909
The Imperial State Duma
After a 2 months of waiting for the mourning period to cease, Tsar Nicholas II is prepared to make his decision to his advisors and especially his beloved wife Alexandra. He stands before the Duma, with hundreds of Duma politicians and noblemen gaze at him as he stands above the top floor of a seven step isl that sits at the front of the Duma chambers awaiting for the Tsar's announcement or speech. They all wondered what Nicholas is up to now as he holds full power over the duma in which was very against to its main purpose of existence, Nicholas ordered the shut down of the Duma in 1906 and 1907 following political disputes over political and social matters and Nicholas is determined to hold absolute power as much as he can to preserve the status quo in which Russia has lived by for centuries. Tsar Nicholas wearing his ceremonial military uniform begins his message to the Duma.
"Gentlemen, from all classes, thank you for attending this important event. For 3 months we have had not a designated successor to the throne of Russia and I am aware that the issue on the matter has become more relevant and controversial in the process of mourning within you're social circles. As Tsar I must overcome this issue and answer is an heir appointed by god, whom he gave the skill, the talent and the necessary knowledge, the night before I was guided to the portrait room and there I saw...
"Is this a government discussion or a early Sunday service?" One politician quietly with annoyance in his voice asked the other next to him.""
"...I saw the answer to the question of succession, as I stare at the portrait of Catherine the Great is the moment I have discovered the the destiny of the Russian nation lies on the hands of my eldest daughter, Grand duchess Olga Nikoleavna Romanova."
small talks erupts over the chambers as the noblemen present questions Nicholas's daughter's legitimacy and considering that she is a girl she cannot become empress unless there are no existing male heirs according to the Paulin laws which were set up by Catherine's son Paul I. Nicholas regains the attention of the Noblemen as he clears his throat loudly.
"I know that this is unexpected and staunchly liberal, but as Tsar of all Imperial Russia... I proclaim the abolishment of the Paulin Laws and hand the succession to the throne to my first born child."
Chaos erupted within the noblemen group present in the Duma chambers claiming their disagreements and discontent on the matter of Imperial Russia's destiny would come into the hands of a woman, despite the fact that Russia have had regent empresses who had ruled over the empire. Tsar Nicholas pulls out a piece of paper from his pocket in which he called the Nicholas reformation, he rolls the paper open gently with his hands and reads it out loud.
"In this day of March 20th, 1909
I as Tsar of all Imperial Russia have declared that a law that have the right as heir apparent to the ruling head of state regardless of their sex will be implemented on the laws of Russia as I officially announce my successor, whom is my eldest of 4 daughters, tomorrow in this here very council on the March of 21st. The laws in which prevents my daughter to her right will be abolished in my discretion, that this under taking will hand less pressure to the ruling head of state and his/her companion and also for the people to worry less. My justification of such law comes from knowledge in history, for years in history Russia has seen five regent empresses of Russian state and as for that my order is justified and therefore LEGAL."
clamor arouses in the chambers as two sides of the coin fight each others opinions on the matter of succession, Tsar Nicholas had expected this reaction. Nicholas himself thought that such undertaking is obscene as he upholds the traditions of his family but he cannot let more turmoil not only tarnish himself a lot more but also his family, the burden to take care of the Russian people also pressured Nicholas to take such course of action as he found it as a more necessary move on the succession issue and from what he hears from tutors on the studious nature of the young Grand duchess he thought to himself that she has already posses at least forms of education that he hope would develop further for the future role he's putting his daughter into.
Alexander Palace
Big pair room
the room is filled with eerie silence and no emotion, Olga and Tatiana just sat on their spots still in mourn for the loss of their dear brother, however Olga have proved to have moved on but she never felt the same, loosing both a cousin and a brother effective the young grand duchess emotionally but she composes herself by telling herself that in the kingdom of the all mighty, children rests in the hand of the lord and play around the lush green fields and clear blue skies, two children, her cousin Elisabeth and her brother Alexie are having a play date together in the supervision of their creator and his son. Tatiana feels empty inside, she couldn't even read a book or paint, she have become a shell of her self, deprived from any positivity and lively traits. A knock woke the two from their shelter of thoughts, Olga turns her attention to the door before walking to it. She twists the handle pulls the door seeing one of the maids in front of her.
"Your Imperial highness." The maid called "Your father wants you in the study room."
Olga is puzzled, almost all day she'd had been staying in the room with Tatiana and played with the little pair just earlier, is she in trouble, what wrong did I do? She thought. "Why?" Olga asked in confusion.
"He wants to talk to you about an issue... Which is none of my business of course." The maid answered.
"Oh.. uh.. ok I'll be there, tell father." Olga ordered.
"Yes, your imperial highness."
The maid closes the door and Olga breaths heavily as she is nervous. Olga turns to her sister and kneeled down behind her chair.
"Tatya." Olga mannerly called.
"Hm?" Tatiana replied blankly.
"I'll be at papa's study room, you... want to come along with me..? To accompany me, please?"
Tatiana sighed and turns her attention away from Olga without a response. Olga is surprised by the new behavior her sister posses, Tatiana never ignored her. But Olga thought now its not the time, she doesn't want to keep her father waiting in room. She stood up from her position before walking to the door and closes it slowly, she takes one more glance at her sister with a worried expression before closing the door completely.
In the study room, Nicholas the II has his hands interlocked together at the surface of his desk. The New study room was added in 1902 as part of a project to enlarge the living quarters of the Imperial family. The walls were painted a light green with a stenciled pattern over an arch behind the Tsar's desk and also one surrounding the fireplace of pine branches with cones. A number of unusual chandeliers hung on uneven chains from the ceiling. They were made of beautiful art glass and gilt bronze. Across the entire room stretched a balcony with gray Austrian marble columns set with gilt bronze mounts. A mahogany staircase led to the top of the balcony, it wrapped around a built in sofa and fireplace. On one wall was built a large ceramic fireplace with dark gray tiles. A marble bust of Alexandra stood on top of the mantle. To the left of it hung Kaulbach's study for his large portrait of Alexandra in the Formal Reception Room.
Olga enters the room through the door and walks to the front of her father's desk. She stands there looking her father directly at him with her deep blue eyes. Nicholas makes the same eye contact with his daughter, he tells her daughter to sit down with a gesture of his hand. Olga grabs the seat and pulled it to her position before sitting on it. Before he begins to talk Nicholas inhales and exhales softly.
"Olga... I send you here for a reason. Our little Alyosha had a gift, a gift of divinity, a gift given to him by God. But sometimes fate has no straight path, it can play with our mortal minds in ways we cannot comprehend...
Olga gives her other a mix of interest and confusion, what is my father talking about the 13 year old thought in her head, she wanted to ask him but there is something within her that does not enable her to question the words of her father, there she continue to listen.
"Fate can blind us with high hopes, play with our dreams and how we go through the obstacle we are born into. Fate can sometimes have a twist, it doesn't care about the well beings of us or anything other than how events occur and how it will shape not only our history but also the history of the universe. The sudden death of your grandfather, was the biggest twist in my life, I call it; The Twist of Fate.
"The twist of fate?" Olga repeated softly.
"The twist of fate." Nicholas replied. "A twist within the fate of one or more individuals can sometimes decide the major course of history and shape the world into a different picture. Fate has no clear indication, it can spread paths every time it pleases. Olga, God has decided to hand the gift of divinity to you..."
Olga couldn't spit a single word out of her mouth, she never hear her father speak very mystically in a way that is almost like she is directly talking to Jesus himself. She blinks several times as she turns her head to one side trying to understand the words of her father, though intelligent, the young girl after all still has a lot to learn. What is he saying? She thought, has he gone mad? Is the death of our beloved Alyosha taking toll on papa?
"Olga, prepare for a chamber gathering tomorrow, wear something special for the occasion. I will see you later." Nicholas said fondly.
"Yes, papa." Olga replied, almost quietly.
She stood up from the chair and walked out of the room after closing the door slowly behind her. Olga just stood by the door, she looked back at it as if it is transparent that she can see her father behind her still sitting at that desk. The words that entered Olga's temple tries to find its way around trying make clear message. She can only wonder.
March 20
In the next morning of March Tsar Nicholas again called a meeting in the imperial Duma chamber, the same amount of crowed showed up and takes their places on each side. Many speculated Nicholas is going to announce another reform and there's nothing they can do about it but watch as Nicholas implements his policies without listening to the advise and opinions to those whom goes against such policies. Nicholas and Olga walks into the hall between the Duma officials, Olga looks around and sees the expressions of the men, some looked hopeful with pride, others disapproval and slight hatred, the 3rd party being unsure. Olga wears her court dress with a blue sash that resembles the blue tone of her eyes and a ghost white kokoshniks on her head, the dress reveals her shoulders that makes Olga shiver a little because of the breeze. They walks up 7 steps to the top of the front isl and there Olga finds herself standing before a crowed and began to feel nervous but she begins to feel comfort as she turns to her father and looked back at the crowed.
"Gentlemen! I here by proclaim my eldest daughter Grand Duchess Olga Nikoleavna Romanova heir apparent to the throne of the empire of Russia!" Nicholas exclaimed loudly as he smiles.
Olga is cought by surprise. Before she can even respond the crowed imminently applauds and the most enthusiastic whistled and cheer. Olga had jaw dropped and she breaths heavily as the burden that was formally held by her brother now lays on her hands, Olga could not believe this, is this a joke she thought to herself, this must be a dream she tells herself again. But this is not a dream, its reality. Olga watched the crowed before her cheered and clapped as she feels a heavy feeling in her chest.
Back at the Alexander palace Olga sits on a chair that is within the Alexander Palace library. The Library is one of the largest marvels of the Alexander Palace, dating back to the reign of Tsar Nicholas I The walls of this room were also covered in chaste, white artificial marble. Three great glass, crystal and gilded bronze lanterns hung in a row down the center of the Library and were from the reign of Catherine II, On the top of the bookcases are models of mounted cavalrymen made by Gazenberger, There were many bronze statuettes and ship models in the room. There, Olga tries to compose herself, it all happens so quickly. Olga still could not believe that one day the burden will be passed on to her, the thought that one day she will become the Empress of Russia is something she doesn't expect to become the chapter of her life. She looks at a window and there she gleamed with hope, this is her chance to finally see the world beyond the walls of her royal luxious life and she can meet the people in which are under the boot of her family.
"Me.. an empress..." Olga muttered to herself, she glances at the window and saw the open world that is she is barred from, out there are people, people whom she wanted to help, but also an opportunity to see the world. A dream she have longed for so long...
